§ 1. Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Minister of Labour what is now the position in regard to the transfers from necessitous areas of unemployed people; whether this policy of transfer is still to be carried out; whether the conditions of employment in any of the towns which accepted such transfers have changed for the worse; and, if so, whether he contemplates the return of the people concerned to their own districts?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Henry Betterton)Transference of unem- 502 ployed persons from the depressed areas takes place as suitable opportunites of employment for them can be found elsewhere, though progress has been retarded by the adverse employment conditions which have effected nearly all districts. I propose to continue this policy to the fullest extent that is practicable. As regards the last part of the question, the depressed areas are still, generally speaking, the hardest hit by unemployment and proposals for organising any return of workers to them could not be seriously contemplated.